Racket weight

ABSTRACT

A racket weight ( 5 D) which is detachably mounted on a joint portion  4  between the grip portion  2  and racket face  3  of a racket ( 1 ) or in the vicinity of this joint portion, and which makes it possible to perform training to increase muscular strength while actually hitting the ball or while making practice swing. The weight ( 5 D) is formed as a thick flattened elastic ring made of an elastic resin material or shock absorbing material, and a concavo-convex portion (A) that conforms to the external shape of the mounting portion of the racket ( 1 ) is formed in the inside wall of the weight ( 5 D). Furthermore, filling members or weight members ( 8 ) made of a material with a high specific gravity are built in, embedded or half-embedded in positions that are symmetrical with respect to the cross-sectional center line or longitudinal-sectional center line in the cross-sectional thickness. Thus, an equal weight is applied to the racket ( 1 ) in the mounting portion or to the front and back sides and/or left and right sides of the racket face ( 3 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a racket weight. Here, the term “racket” refers to a tennis racket, soft tennis racket, badminton racket, squash racket, racket ball racket and other ball hitting implement that has strings.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In rackets used in tennis, etc., the player must instantaneously judge and vary the gripping angle of the grip and the orientation of the face surface with respect to the approaching ball, and the player also plays using this racket over a long period of time. Accordingly, the player needs to constantly train in order to increase his muscular strength.

[0003] In addition, a racket must be accurately swung with good timing. If ball hitting practice and practice swing are performed with weights on a racket during training, then, since the weights are removed from the racket during actual competition, the racket can be swung more quickly and easily. Thus, training with the weight increases the muscular strength.

[0004] In the past, weights used for practice swing have included weights that are mounted on the ball hitting surface (strings) of a racket. In this case, though practice swing can be performed, training that is performed while actually hitting the ball is not possible.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides a racket weight which makes it possible to increase muscular strength while actually hitting the ball or performing practice swing with the weight mounted on the racket and which makes it possible to accomplish training that improves the swinging speed and swinging balance of the player.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0006] The means employed is that in a racket, a weight is detachably mounted on a joint portion between the grip portion and the racket face or in the vicinity of this joint portion; and utilizing such a weight and by way of selecting weights that differ in weight, a weight is mounted on a racket so that the load is controlled by different values of weight, or a weight is mounted at different positions of a racket, thus making it possible to increase the muscular strength of the player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a front view which shows one embodiment (Embodiment 1 described later) of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top view of the same.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a top view which shows another embodiment (Embodiment 2 described later) of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a top view which shows still another embodiment (Embodiment 3 described later) of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a front view which shows yet another embodiment (Embodiment 4 described later) of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a top view of the same.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a front view which shows still another embodiment (Embodiment 5 described later) of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 9 is a top view of the same.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. 9.

[0017]FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line the II-II in FIG. 9.

[0018]FIG. 12 is a front view which shows the manner of use of the present invention.

[0019] An explanation of the symbols is given for reference. These symbols are appended to terms in the following text that describes the details of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. The underlines of symbols indicate that the symbols refer to overall constructions.

[0020]1: Racket

[0021]2: Grip portion

[0022]3: Racket face

[0023]4: Joint portion

[0024]5: Weight

[0025]5A: Weight

[0026]5B: Weight

[0027]5C: Weight

[0028]5D: Weight

[0029]5 a: Front plate

[0030]5 b: Back plate

[0031]6: Screw

[0032]7: Hook

[0033]9: Filling members or Weight members

[0034] A: Concavo-convex portion

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0035] In order to describe the present invention in greater detail, the present invention is explained below with reference to the attached drawings.

EMBODIMENT 1

[0036] The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. The manner of use of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 12. (The manner of use is common to all the embodiments described below.) As is shown in the respective figures and can be conceived from any one of claims 1 through 3, the racket weight (5) of this embodiment is constructed so that the racket weight (5 is detachably mounted on a joint portion (4) or in the vicinity of the joint portion (4) which is between the grip portion (2) and racket face (3) in a racket (1). Here, the term “joint portion (4)” refers to a throat portion that extends from the grip portion (2) to the racket face (3) or to an open throat portion that extends from the grip portion (2) to both ends of the racket face (3). Furthermore, the term “vicinity of the joint portion (4)” refers to a position or region that includes a part of the throat or open throat portion and a part of the racket face (3) or a part of the racket face (3).

[0037] Furthermore, the racket weight (5) has a flattened ring shape and is flexible or stretchable. The inner wall of this weight (5) is formed with a concavo-convex portion (A) so as to conform to the racket shape. The concavo-convex portion (A) is in a tapered shape so as to conform to the thickness differences in the racket frame, thus forming a structure that prevents the weight from falling off in the direction toward the grip. Furthermore, the concavo-convex portion (A) is constructed so that the weight is prevented from shifting downward by the convex portion at the bottom when the weight is mounted on the racket face (3).

EMBODIMENT 2

[0038] The second embodiment which can be conceived from the invention described in claim 4 is shown in FIG. 4. As is shown in the figure, the racket weight (5A) of this embodiment comprises a front plate (5 a) and a back plate (5 b), and it is constructed so that these two plates (5 a) and (5 b) are held by a screw (6) with a racket interposed.

[0039] Screw fastening can be used (though not shown in the figures) in combination with the ring-form weight shown in the above-mentioned first embodiment.

EMBODIMENT 3

[0040] The third embodiment which can be conceived from the invention described in claim 5 is shown in FIG. 5. As is shown in the figure, in the racket weight (5B) of this embodiment, the front plate (5 a) and back plate (5 b) are separated at one place and are detachably connected by a hook (7) in the separated place with the racket (1) interposed between the two plates, so that the racket (1) is clamped between the plates. The symbols 8 in the figure indicate filling members (or weight members) which are of a different material from the weight (5B).

EMBODIMENT 4

[0041] The fourth embodiment which can be conceived from the invention described in claim 6 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As is shown in the respective figures, in the racket weight (5C) of this embodiment, the weight (5C) which is inserted from the grip side is detachably mounted so that the weight straddles the racket face (3) and open throat portion that extends from a throat portion (extending from the grip portion (2) to the racket face (3)) to both ends of the racket face (3) in the racket (1). In this weight (5C), grooves that penetrate into the cross section are alternately formed in the inner wall and portions of the outer surface so that the cross-sectional shape of the weight takes a bellows shape. The expansion and contraction characteristics are improved by thus creating a variation in the thickness of the weight.

EMBODIMENT 5

[0042] The fifth embodiment which can be conceived from the invention described in claim 7 or claim 8 is shown in FIGS. 8 through 11. As is shown in the respective figures, the racket weight (5D) of this embodiment is made of an elastic resin material or an impact absorbing material and is formed in a thick flattened ring shape. A concavo-convex portion (A) which conforms to the external shape of the weight mounting portion of the racket (1) is formed in the inside wall, and filling members or weight members (8) made of a material with a high specific gravity are built in, embedded or half-embedded in positions that are symmetrical with respect to the cross-sectional center line or longitudinal-sectional center line in the cross-sectional thickness. Furthermore, it is designed so that equal weights are applied on the front and back sides and/or left and right sides of the racket (1) (or racket face 3) in the weight mounting position. In regard to the construction of the invention described in claim 7, reference should be made to FIG. 5 in the above-mentioned third embodiment.

[0043] The mounting location (position) of the respective racket weights (5, (5A), (5B), (5C) and (5D) is ordinarily the joint portion (4). In a structure in which the weight is formed so that both surfaces (or both ends) thereof are extended, the load on the muscular strength can be increased further by moving and disposing the weight on the racket face (3), so that a variation can be created in the load on the muscles.

[0044] By mounting the racket weight in the open throat portion, it is possible to perform training to hit balls while the weight is mounted on the racket. Furthermore, when the weight is mounted only on the racket face (3), practice swing can be made with this weight mounted on the racket.

[0045] Here, the racket weight is disposed on at least the lower half of the racket face, and the weight is formed in a tapered shape that expands in the upward direction. As a result, the weight is anchored on the racket and will not slip off of the racket no matter how hard the racket is swung.

[0046] Furthermore, so as to vary the weight of the racket weight, besides using racket weights of different shapes or mounting weights at different positions as described in the respective embodiments above, it is also possible to use materials that have different specific gravities or to vary the width or thickness of the racket weight.

[0047] Furthermore, the racket weight can be provided with filling members or weight members (8) that are made of materials with different specific gravities and built in, embedded or half-embedded in the racket weight.

[0048] Furthermore, the weight of the racket weight can be varied also by installing a bag (not shown in the figures) on the racket weight, and thus making filling members or weight members (8) that constitute weights removable using the bag.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0049] According to the present invention, by way of mounting the weight on a racket, it is possible to increase muscular strength by making practice swing or hitting the ball with a racket that is heavier than the racket that is ordinarily used. Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to perform training so as to improve the swinging speed and swinging balance.

[0050] Moreover, since the racket weight is a flexible or stretchable flattened elastic ring, the weight can be mounted by inserting the weight from the grip portion. The operation of attachment and removal of the weight is easy.

[0051] Furthermore, a variation in weight of the racket weight can be obtained by an employment of different materials, widths or thicknesses for the weight; and weight desired by the player can be freely selected. Moreover, a racket weight with finely adjusted weight can be obtained by embedding other materials with different specific gravities as filling members in the weight or by making these filling members replaceable. 

1. A racket weight characterized in that a weight is detachably mounted on a joint portion between a grip portion and a racket face or in the vicinity of said joint portion in a racket.
 2. The racket weight according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint portion or vicinity of said joint portion is a throat portion or open throat portion extending from the grip portion to both ends of the racket face, a throat or open throat portion and a portion of the racket face, or a part of the racket face.
 3. The racket weight according to claim 1, characterized in that the weight has a flexible or stretchable flattened ring shape, and an inside wall forms a concavo-convex portion that runs along the racket.
 4. The racket weight according to claim 1, characterized in that the weight is comprised of a front plate and a back plate, said two plates being held together by a screw with a racket interposed.
 5. The racket weight according to claim 1, characterized in that a front plate and a back plate constituting the weight are separated at one location, and said plates are connected by a hook in said separated location with a racket interposed, so that the racket is held between the plates.
 6. The racket weight according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that a variation in weight is obtained by varying material, width or thickness of the weight.
 7. The racket weight according to claim 1, 3 or 4, characterized in that a filling member or a weight member made of different material is embedded in the weight.
 8. A racket weight which is detachably mounted on: a throat portion or an open throat portion constituting a joint portion between a grip portion and a racket face in a racket, on a position which covers the throat or open throat portion, which constitutes a position in the vicinity of said joint portion, and a part of the racket face, or on a position which covers a part of the racket face; said racket weight being characterized in that the said weight is a thick flattened elastic ring made of an elastic resin material or shock absorbing material, a concavo-convex portion which conforms to an external shape of a mounting portion of the racket is formed in an inside wall of the weight, and filling members or weight members made of a material with a high specific gravity are built in, embedded or half-embedded in positions that are symmetrical with respect to the cross-sectional center line or longitudinal-sectional center line in the cross-sectional thickness, so that an equal weight is applied to the racket in the mounting portion or to front and back sides and/or left and right sides of the racket face. 